The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-04-14
LYNCH LAW MUST GO.

mainly OF the country, IS undoubtedly
crystahzing in opposition to lynch law.
While lynchings are still exceedingly
frequent considering the "wholesale
Iynching in South Carolina last
week,'') the recent Investigations OF
grand juries and the prosecutions OF
persons accused Of Icing concerned IN
summary and illegal executions, show
the tendency Of the times, and indicate
that in the not very remote future
1ynching will not be tolerated except,
perhaps, in the most extreme cases,
where from some cause the law cannot
be relied on to take its due course.
1t would be wrong to say that the
frequency with which lynch law has
been resorted to in this country during
the past few years indicates disregard
of the laws of the land, and dispo-
sition to lightly estimate the sacred
ness of human life. In nine lynchings
out of every ten, probably, the lynch
ers are ordinarily law respecting and
peaceable citizens whose indignation
is excited beyond bounds by some pc
culiarly outrageous crimes, but who
| ! IL 6 he, 1ou 4
thus enter a tragical protest against its
delays and the abuses too often at
tendant upon its administration. 1t is
true, however, that the people them
selves are to blame principally for
whatever ineficiency there may be in
the courts in the matter of Furnishing
and thereby preventing crime. If the
people would at all times faithfully
perform the duties required of them by
law as Jurors and conservators of peace
and morality, and insist on the faith
full performance of such duties as are re-
CURED of public officials, there would
soon be no necessity or excuse for the
illegal and summary execution of sup
posed criminals, thus depriving them
of a fair trial as guaranteed to them by
the constitution.
OF the hundreds of instances of
lynChing that occur in the country
every year, there is strong presump-
ton that many of the victims are in
nOCent. 1t is very seldom the case,
probably, that sufficient precautions
are taken to prevent the execution of
possibly innocent persons. In fact,
men whose minds are infamed by the
sight of the consequences of some ter
rible outrage cannot be considered the
proper persons to perform the offices
Of both courts and eXeCutiOners.
While there is no doubt that the
better sentiment of the country is OPP
posed to lynch law, it has not yet be-
come strong enough to secure the con-
viction of any Of the persons accused
Of being lynchers. Whether in Wyo-
ming, or Washington Territory, Or
New Jersey, or Tennessee, or South
| Carolina, the condemnation of lynch
ing is tempered by a kind Of rude
sense Of justice that protects the par
ties who resort to it. Actions SO radi-
cally wrong, however, cannot much
longer be excused on account of the
motives and impulses which lead to
them. Sooner or later it will doubt
less be frequently the case that lynch
ers will not only be indicted, but found
guilty and punished. Perhaps even
the death penalty Of murder will in
some peculiarly unjustifable cases be
administered. The pulpits and COM
mon schools, as we'll as the courts,
must teach respect for and submission
to the law, and then lynch law must
soon follow the code duello into OBJ
livion.